Letters of Franklin K. Lane eBook

MydearColonel,—­I have
received a great many hundred letters, but I think
I can honestly say that no other one has given me the
pleasure that yours has. I am struggling hard
to get the reins of this six-horse team in my hands
and every day I feel more acutely the weight of the
responsibility that I bear. The last few weeks
have been put in being interviewed by Senators and
Congressmen, who wish to name men for the few positions
in the office. It has been rather enjoyable,
and they have been fair and by no means peremptory.
The hardest place I have to fill is that of Commissioner
of Indian Affairs. How absurd to try to get a
man to handle the interests of an entire race, owning
a thousand million dollars’ worth of property,
and have to offer a salary of $5,000 a year!

I hope that you will feel free to give me the benefit
of any advice as to the conduct of my department that
may happen to come to you out of your great experience.
As always, faithfully yours,

FRANKLIN K. LANE

TO LAWRENCE F. ABBOTT OUTLOOK

Washington, April 9, 1913

MydearLawrence,—­The Japanese
are reducing the value of California lands by buying
a piece in a picked valley, paying any price that
is demanded. They swarm then over this particular
piece of property until they reduce the value of all
the adjacent land. No one wishes to be near them;
with the result that they buy or lease the adjoining
land, and so they radiate from this center until now
they have possession of some of the best valleys.
Really the influx of the Japanese is quite as dangerous
as that of the Chinese. The proposed legislation
in California is not to exclude Japanese alone, but
to make it impossible for any alien to own land, at
least until he declares his intention to become a
citizen. Inasmuch, of course, as Orientals can
not become citizens, this disbars them from owning
land.

There is, of course, as in all things Californian,
a good deal of hysteria over this matter, and I think
your Progressive friends are trying to put the Democrats
in a bit of a hole by making it appear that the Democrats
are being influenced by the Federal Government to
take a more conservative course than the Progressives
desire.

My information is that some restrictive legislation
will be passed by the legislature, no matter what
Japan’s attitude may be, but Japan’s face
will be saved and every need met if the legislation
is general in terms. ...

April 20, 1913

... I do not like the sudden turn that Johnson
seems to have taken in the last day or two but I still
have faith that those people out there will do the
sensible thing and allow us to save Japan’s
face while very properly excluding the Japanese from
owning land in California; and I have no objection
whatever to excluding all the Englishmen and Scotchmen
who flock in there without any intention of becoming
citizens. As always, yours,